Two Meltham ladies are without a doubt the best in Britain.
Kate Helm and Mary Shawley have beaten 33,000 British women golfers to take the coveted Coronation Foursomes title at St Andrew’s.
Organised by the Ladies’ Golf Union (LGU) and sponsored by Peugeot 208 , the Coronation Foursomes is the biggest amateur competition in women’s golf and this year attracted entries from 1,300 clubs.
They beat the field at St Andrews by seven clear shots and their victory is all the more amazing, as this is the first season the duo have teamed up – although they have already agreed to play together next season.
After winning the club competition at Meltham in April, they qualified for the regional final at Durham City, which they also won.
They then received five-star treatment as the sponsors flew them up to Edinburgh earlier this month and then took them by taxi to St Andrews for two nights in the Old Course Hotel, a drinks reception and the 18-hole final against 15 other pairings.
They finished with 40 Stableford points, the couple who came in second had 33 points.
Kate said: “It has been an absolutely incredible experience. “The LGU organised everything and it was absolutely superb.
“From the hotel we had the iconic view of the Swilcan Bridge, it was amazing, although the competition was very nerve-wracking.
“The Eden is a links course and we are not used to that, Meltham is parkland. So earlier in the season we went up to Flamborough to play a links course.”
After their win the couple were each presented with a Scottish Friendship Cup and interviewed by Sky TV.
Kate, who only took up golf four years ago, began the season with a 32 handicap and has since reduced by five shots. Mary plays off 30.
The two players’ games complement each other – Kate hits the ball a long way and Mary is a good chipper and putter.
Kate added: “All the support we have had from Meltham has been really nice. When I think about how many golfers take part, it is unbelievable. We are only just coming back down to earth.”
They are both already starting to get nervous when they think about next season, as winning the Coronation Foursomes has secured them a place in the Ricoh Women’s British Open Pro-Am at Royal Birkdale on July 8 next year.
